Interview: Tasty Keish of WBAI 99.5FM

I consistently would like to expand the features that I post on my blogs.

Even though, I created this blog to be music and entertainment oriented (as opposed to my newsletter blog CLICK HERE), I would still like this blog to be a source of information. With that being said, I introduce to you, this blog's first interview. Through my interview posts, I hope to introduce the reader to people who delve in music, media, and/or entertainment. It's my hope that the reader will learn about various aspects of the aforementioned fields, and the people who are affiliated wuth them.

My first interview for this growing vlog is with Tasty Keish from "Rise Up Radio" on 99.5FM (NYC). I met Keish when I was a guest on Rise Up Radio. As she has interviewed me a few times, it was only right that I become the interviewer, and she become the interviewee this time around. [SIDEBAR: I would write a more in depth introduction for the interview, but that would spoil the main dish; the interview below covers it all.]

ELSIE LAW: I first became acquainted with you through a show that you co-host on 99.5FM called Rise Up Radio. Tell me a little bit about your love for radio, and your journey through the broadcasting industry thus far?
TASTY KEISH: Radio is cool because you get to talk to people all day, and Lord knows I can talk for hours and hours. My mom put the joke bug in me and my dad passed down the power of public speaking...Only thing is I have stage fright. So, radio is good for that. You can be heard and not seen. I'm making the transition, but radio will always be my first choice. It's the people's medium.

I started officially doing radio in college. My freshmen year, I was at Marymount Manhattan College doing a radio show in a basement converted bathroom pre-podcast. So it only went out to the basement rec room, which was so wack because we had to try and get people to go sit in there so they would hear us. LOL. Then I transferred to CUNY Brooklyn College, where they had a radio station in James Hall. It was real radio-y...lol. Posters and records all over. I had my own show for like 3 years. Half music/half spoken word, and we had a live poetry party on air- which is where I pulled the idea for the female cypher that you were in, Elsie. By the time the station had moved to its present location on campus, it was time for me to graduate. I was sooo jealous, I hadn't yet gotten my hands on protools or any of the industry software that they have now. I still feel very cheated- real talk.

I honestly felt so very unprepared after graduating college. I didn't want to apply for jobs. So I sought out experiences that I could use to self teach. I worked at a sleep-away Arts Camp in Pennsylvania called Ballibay as their radio teacher/camp nurse. LOL. It was CRAZY. The kids there are smarter and more talented then most adults I know! (Shout out to John Janonne and his parents for making that camp what it is today) My wildest experience was with the youngest kids, I had a whole cabin of 7-8 year olds doing a morning show and running the boards and everything. One day one of them ran out and since it was so early I had to decide to either stay with the rest in studio or run after the one...I ran after the one girl. LOL.

When I got back home after the 10 weeks, I relaxed for a month or so and then I heard about Rise Up Radio needing new hosts, and that they would train you. So, I applied; got a call back and the rest is history. Rise Up Radio has been a blessing in my life for so many reasons. Working to build something from the ground up and being responsible for carrying on a legacy is something very serious to me. Also, very serious is the ability to mold and put my own slant on a show. I think with my co-hosts (Digo and Kswift- who I met at the training 4years ago), we've done that.



EL: You dropped a lot of jewels in that answer. You helped to orchestrate a morning show run by 7 and 8 year olds? Incredible, and believable. There's so much untapped brilliance.
TK: Ballibay is a great place. The ages ranged from 7-16 and I had them all at one point. That particular group was difficult because younger kids want to have you all to themselves; so if I had one with me running the boards, another wouldn't want to be at the table talking on the mics with the rest- which is what that incident stemmed from. It's funny when I think about it now. I saw the older kids had talents they wanted to integrate within their shows. There was one group that put together a band and we ran wires from the nearby barn and did a "remote" then had them in studio after- sort of like MTV Unplugged. I believe one of the girls is a young lady in college now. Her name is Dana Wilentz. She actually had her own band at the time and they played at real clubs. The brilliance of "kids" is very underestimated.



EL: You also mentioned feeling that college wasn't necessarily a totally adequate preparation for life after higher-education. However, you also gave great examples of being resourceful in educating yourself & creating your own opportunities. Please let the people know what opportunities you are currently building for yourself?
TK: I feel very two-fold about college. Due to my upbringing, I couldn't see it any other way. There was no choice BUT for me to go to college. I worked full-time and I couldn't afford myself opportunities like internships. How do you work full-time for free when you have to work full-time to pay for school? I missed out on a lot of things on one hand, and tried to do other things to make up for that- like write for the school paper, take extra electives in my major, and one summer of study abroad, etc... Without formal education, I recognize there are conversations I probably wouldn't normally have that I can now have. But those are conversations. Not hands on work. Maybe I learn, differently. I don't know.

The "opportunities" I'm building for myself is just how I go about living my life. No one is gonna give me anything. I wanted a radio show, I got on Rise Up Radio (WBAI 99.5 FM). I wanted a TV show, so I did some research and now I have my webshow "Taste of the Town." So what it's not TV per se, but it's mine. I'm the host, I'm the producer. I have a phenomenal editor (Dorian Chandler), and I'm having new experiences that I'm dying to share. The other thing that gives me a rush is hosting live events (bands, etc) which comes out of my experience at Rise Up and learning and getting to know different bands, and certain people believing in me. I was recently blessed to be asked to write a music blog for societyHAE.com- a global fashion, lifestyles, and culture website that comes from the Brooklyn Harriette's Alter Ego movement. I'm enjoying life right now, and I'm ready for more. I can only hope these are adequate building blocks.



EL: Wow. That's quite a journey. Whenever someone verbalizes their plight it always sounds a lot easier than it is in reality. You could have hit a stumbling block and decided to quit, or you could have understandably succumbed to the weight of all of your responsibilities. However, you persevered and are still persevering. What keeps you on track? What do you attribute your focus to?
TK: Plight is kind of a strong word. When I was in those tough spots, I definitely felt plight. I called a lot of friends and family at all hours of the day and night. I took certain thoughts to work with me to my "day" job everyday. Thoughts that I sometimes feel guilty about. In the end, I don't want to disappoint the people that have been a shoulder to cry on. I don't want to look back and not have tried to do EVERYTHING I could possibly do to live the way I wanted to. I want to make it so that my mom can keep telling people that story she tells people. The story that defends me from naysayers in the family. It starts; "Oh...Keisha does radio. Since she was in high school she said she never wanted a 'regular' job, she wants to have fun at work...." LOL. My parents will take a stack of fliers when I have a show and plaster them wherever they go. I want them to keep believing in me like that.



EL: I saw another interview that you did for a blog where you explained the origins of your radio moniker; but for people who may not have viewed that online interview yet, explain what inspired the name "Tasty Keish."
TK: Tasty Keish, is my name with the word Tasty in front because it’s the word "cute" all grown up. I'm a foodie as wel,l so it pays homage to the chunky girl inside of me as well...LOL. I love that girl.



EL: With the branding of your name and your entrepreneurial spirit I wouldn't be surprised if there was a Tasty Keish restaurant, cooking show, or food product on the horizon.
TK: Elsie...You're making me think of things I haven't even begun to imagine yet! You might be right. I never met a plate I couldn't finish. LOL. If I ever did, I would do it with my brother, Ronnie aka "Boss Bro," cause he's a take charge dude and he's doing his thing right now as a chef. For real though, I would LOVE to do a travel show that tries all local foods and nightlife in different location. That could definitely be in my future.



EL: What can people expect when they come to a show hosted by Tasty Keish?
TK: Ummm....A good time for sure. A couple of laughs. Some crowd participation; and you get to see me sweat!



EL: You're engaged in a winning battle with stage fright, and you're mastering the art of hosting live performing arts shows. What has been your favorite or most memorable experience hosting so far?
TK: As for as the stage fright thing...I'll just say one thing: NuBLU with The Real Live Show! Those brothers are FIRE! They let me sit in with them and bring back my spoken word or just talk to the people. They are the most supportive team. Things didn’t always work out the way I thought, but working with them allowed me to stray from my usual state and explore performing in another way. I co-sign The Real Live Show. Go see them at NuBlu every Tuesday!
My most memorable one so far.....Would have to be the night MJ died and I had to co-host a show for The Dugout, Queen GodIs, Baje One and several other artists. I was brought on by my friend and co-host, Conscious for that show and we ended up doing Buddhist chant with the crowd to get them (and ourselves) centered and mid-way thru we did a MJ medley. Please take note...I am NOT a singer!



EL: I'm not familiar with Buddhist chants; but a Buddhist chant at what turned out to be a partial MJ tribute show? How did the crowd react to that?
TK: My co-host on that gig is very cerebral like that LOL....That’s the kind of thing he does if the crowd is going left. I had seen him do it before and I was like “Oh. I'm about to learn something.” He asked if anyone in the audience knew any chants. One girl did. So while she did "Nam Myo Ho Ren Ge Kyo" (you know, the Tina Turner “What's Love Got To Do With It” chant), we had the crowd going "Ohm" real soft to loud...It was cool, and very appropriate for that time. He's a good person to host with. Recently, I hosted his ALL LADIES Bondfire show, and after that he asked me co- host officially his show- Bondfire at The Bowery Poetry Club. A very artist friendly open mic and concert series every last Tuesday of the month. Soooo, I guess he thinks I'm a good host too.



EL: I think that we covered a lot of ground. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
TK: Just that I'm really happy right now. Thank you so much for this opportunity, Elsie! And if you guys would like to hit me up I'm a devoted twit-head www.twitter.com/tastykeish, www.facebook.com/tastykeish, or learn more without the stalking qualities at http://www.tastykeish.com/ :)